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The Role of Owner in Capital Structure Decisions: An Analysis of Single-Owner Corporations

Author

Listed:
  • James Ang

    (Florida State University)

  • Rebel Cole

    (DePaul University)

  • Daniel Lawson

    (Gonzaga University)

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which individual demographic characteristics of owners influence capital structure desisions. Using the Federal Reserve's 2003 Survey of Small Business Finances, we estimate the joint effects of traditional capital structure determinants and manager age, gender, education, business experience, sophistication, and wealth on the capital structure of single-owner corporations. By calculating the marginal contribution of personal risk tolerance, we demonstrate that owner preference contributes meaningfully to the explained variation in capital structure decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • James Ang & Rebel Cole & Daniel Lawson, 2010. "The Role of Owner in Capital Structure Decisions: An Analysis of Single-Owner Corporations," Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, vol. 14(3), pages 1-36, Fall.
    • Handle: RePEc:pep:journl:v:14:y:2010:i:3:p:1-36
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    3. Peel Michael J., 2016. "Owner-Managed UK Corporate Start-Ups: An Exploratory Study of Financing and Failure," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 6(4), pages 345-367, October.
    4. Olga Guseva & Anastasia Stepanova, 2019. "Startups In Russia: Ownership Vs. Performance," HSE Working papers WP BRP 76/FE/2019, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    5. Jain, Pawan & Jiang, Christine & Mekhaimer, Mohamed, 2016. "Executives' horizon, internal governance and stock market liquidity," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-23.
    6. Huiyu Li, 2015. "Leverage and Productivity," Discussion Papers 15-015, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
    7. Kalemli-Özcan, Sebnem, 2018. "Leverage over the Life Cycle and Implications for Firm Growth and Shock Responsiveness," CEPR Discussion Papers 13337, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Pelger, Ines, 2012. "Male vs. female business owners: Are there differences in investment behavior?," VfS Annual Conference 2012 (Goettingen): New Approaches and Challenges for the Labor Market of the 21st Century 62016, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Naufa, Ahmad Maulin & Lantara, I Wayan Nuka & Lau, Wee-Yeap, 2019. "The impact of foreign ownership on return volatility, volume, and stock risks: Evidence from ASEAN countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 221-235.
    10. Masiak, Christian & Block, Joern H. & Moritz, Alexandra & Lang, Frank & Kraemer-Eis, Helmut, 2017. "Financing Micro Firms in Europe: An Empirical Analysis," EIF Working Paper Series 2017/44, European Investment Fund (EIF).
    11. Carmen Cotei & Joseph Farhat, 2017. "The Leasing Decisions of Startup Firms," Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies (RPBFMP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(04), pages 1-30, December.
    12. Emin Dinlersoz & Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan & Henry Hyatt & Veronika Penciakova, 2018. "Leverage over the Life Cycle and Implications for Firm Growth and Shock Responsiveness," NBER Working Papers 25226, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Natalia Szomko, 2020. "Factors Associated with the Capital Structure of Polish Companies in the Long and Short Term," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 1, pages 55-74.
    14. Emin M. Dinlersoz & Henry Hyatt & Ṣebnem Kalemli-Özcan & Veronika Penciakova, 2019. "Leverage over the Firm Life Cycle, Firm Growth, and Aggregate Fluctuations," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 2019-18, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    15. Susan Coleman & Carmen Cotei & Joseph Farhat, 2016. "The debt-equity financing decisions of U.S. startup firms," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 40(1), pages 105-126, January.
    16. Susan Coleman & Carmen Cotei & Joseph Farhat, 2016. "The debt-equity financing decisions of U.S. startup firms," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 40(1), pages 105-126, January.
    17. Joel M. Vanden, 2016. "Optimal capital structures for private firms," Annals of Finance, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 245-273, May.
    18. Cole, Rebel A. & Sokolyk, Tatyana, 2018. "Debt financing, survival, and growth of start-up firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 609-625.
    19. Kent Baker, H. & Kumar, Satish & Rao, Purnima, 2020. "Financing preferences and practices of Indian SMEs," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital Structure; Risk Tolerance; Owner Preference; Entrepreneurship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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